Austin news

• Increase in cloud cover and a few isolated showers could mean heat relief on Saturday

  05-08-2022 23:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin recorded its 21st-consecutive 100° day on Friday -- a tie for the second-longest heatwave in recorded history. But a weak disturbance moving our way from the Texas coast may mean some brief, welcome heat relief on Saturday.While the storm system is unfortunately not expected to bring much beneficial rainfall, we are expecting mostly cloudy skies and a 5-6° drop in high temperatures. A high of 'only' 98° in Austin on Saturday would be our coolest weekend day in
  
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• Police investigating shooting in southeast Austin

  05-08-2022 22:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police are responding to shooting in southeast Austin,
  The Austin Police Association tweeted at 2:44 p.m. that detectives were working the shooting. The Austin Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a shots fired call at 1:53 p.m.It happened in the 6200 block of E. Ben White Blvd. near the intersection of Montopolis Drive.
  If you have any information about this crime please contact APD tip line at TIPS Hotline at 512-472-TIPS (8477) or 800-893-TIPS (8477).KXAN wi
  
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• 1 dead in shooting at southeast Austin gas station

  05-08-2022 22:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police are searching for a suspect as they investigate a shooting at a southeast Austin gas station. Police said the shooting is considered a homicide.
  The Austin Police Association tweeted at 2:44 p.m. that detectives were working the shooting. The Austin Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a shots fired call at 1:53 p.m.It happened at a Shell gas station in the 6200 block of E. Ben White Blvd. near the intersection of Montopolis Drive.
  Officers arrived at th
  
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• 2 suspects arrested in May south Austin shooting, 3rd in Mexico

  05-08-2022 22:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two of three suspects have been arrested in a shooting that happened in mid-May in a south Austin gym parking lot, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. An arrest affidavit for one of them reveals law enforcement believe the third is in Mexico.John W. Bagwell, 19, was arrested this week in Colorado and faces and first-degree murder charge. He is not listed as being in custody in Travis County Jail and does not have an attorney listed online as of Friday afternoon.
  Juan Lo
  
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• QUIZ: How well do you know these Austin landmarks?

  05-08-2022 21:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — From scenic views and buildings to historic streets, Austin has quite a few recognizable landmarks.
  KXAN compiled a quiz to test your knowledge.
  Participate using the box below to see whether you can identify these 18 landmarks correctly.If you didn't receive your desired score, you can study up on some of the sites here. Family in town? Austin landmarks and tourist traps even locals loveAustin started growing into a city in the 1880s, according to Austin History Center, bu
  
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• Jury orders Alex Jones to pay $45.2M in additional punitive damages

  05-08-2022 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One day after a jury decided Infowars host Alex Jones should pay the family of a Sandy Hook victim millions of dollars, it sat down again to decide on other damages to order: more than $45 million.The parents of a 6-year-old who died in the shooting on Dec.14, 2012 -- Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis -- sued Jones for defamation and inflicting mental anguish.Last year, the court found the conspiracy theorist and talk show host was liable in the case, over repeated claims that
  
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• Alex Jones: Jury considers additional punitive damages

  05-08-2022 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One day after a jury decided Infowars host Alex Jones owes the family of a Sandy Hook victim millions of dollars, it sat down again to decide other damages he owes.The court found last year Jones was liable for claims that the shooting was a hoax and parents were "crisis actors." The parents of a 6-year-old who died, Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, sued Jones for defamation and inflicting mental anguish.
  For the past two weeks, jurors have heard testimony in Austin and on T
  
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• Alex Jones: Jury awards $45.2M additional punitive damages

  05-08-2022 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One day after a jury decided Infowars host Alex Jones owes the family of a Sandy Hook victim millions of dollars, it sat down again to decide other damages he owes: more than $45 million.The court found last year Jones was liable for claims that the shooting was a hoax and parents were "crisis actors." The parents of a 6-year-old who died, Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, sued Jones for defamation and inflicting mental anguish.
  For the past two weeks, jurors have heard testi
  
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• The one element that could reduce the area's rain chances

  05-08-2022 20:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A warm muggy 78° greeted early risers Friday. The area was mostly cloudy. Much of the cloud cover cleared out during the morning to a sunny sky at noon.Scattered clouds will arrive during the middle to late afternoon as moisture becomes a little more plentiful. Thus, there will be a 10% chance of a few isolated to scattered showers. Most of it will be in our eastern counties.
  Most highs will peak at 99° to 103°. Winds will come out of the south to southeast 5 to 15 m
  
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• Texas' Sales Tax Holiday: Work uniforms, cowboy boots exempt

  05-08-2022 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas' 23rd annual Sales Tax Holiday starts today and means that some purchases under $100 (in particular back-to-school items) are exempt from sales tax.
  While the sales tax rate has not changed since 1990, when it was raised to 6.25%, inflation certainly has — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 now as the buying power of $56.09 in June 1999, when the holiday began.Read the Texas legislative text governing the Sales Tax Holiday's rules here.Texas Compt
  
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• Sales Tax Holiday 2022 starts today; here's how to save

  05-08-2022 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas' 23rd annual Sales Tax Holiday starts today and means that some purchases under $100 (in particular back-to-school items) are exempt from sales tax.
  While the sales tax rate has not changed since 1990, when it was raised to 6.25%, inflation certainly has — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 now as the buying power of $56.09 in June 1999, when the holiday began.Read the Texas legislative text governing the Sales Tax Holiday's rules here.Texas Compt
  
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• Items that you didn't know you could buy during Texas' Sales Tax Holiday

  05-08-2022 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas' 23rd annual Sales Tax Holiday starts today and means that some purchases under $100 (in particular back-to-school items) are exempt from sales tax.
  While the sales tax rate has not changed since 1990, when it was raised to 6.25%, inflation certainly has — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 now as the buying power of $56.09 in June 1999, when the holiday began.Read the Texas legislative text governing the Sales Tax Holiday's rules here.Texas Compt
  
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• UT models: 245K Texans could be hospitalized with BA.4/BA.5 before surge ends

  05-08-2022 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — New projections from the University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium show hundreds of thousands of Texans could end up in the hospital with BA.4 and BA.5 before the current surge ends, and thousands of those people could die.The consortium ran different scenarios and came up with a best and worst case.In the best case scenario — where BA.4 and BA.5 are not more transmissible than previous variants, immunity wanes more slowly and people get their booster shots &md
  
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• LIVE: Austin health leaders discuss monkeypox, fall events Friday

  05-08-2022 17:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Public Health, Central Health and other local health leaders will host a virtual roundtable Friday to discuss monkeypox and the looming fall festival season.As of Thursday, there are nine confirmed and 46 presumptive cases of monkeypox in Austin-Travis County. There are 559 confirmed monkeypox cases in Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The uptick in cases comes as Austin heads into a busy festival season, with large events like Pride
  
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• Can I get vaccinated for monkeypox? APH updates public on its vaccine efforts

  05-08-2022 17:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's the question we've gotten most from KXAN viewers: Can I get vaccinated for monkeypox? Because of the shortage of vaccine available in the United States right now, Austin Public Health explained Friday how it's rationing its doses.
  As it stands right now, only the following people are eligible to be vaccinated:You have made intimate, prolonged contact with someone who has a confirmed case of monkeypoxYou have had multiple sexual partners in the past 14 days in an area where
  
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• Austin health leaders to discuss monkeypox, fall events Friday

  05-08-2022 17:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Public Health, Central Health and other local health leaders will host a virtual roundtable Friday to discuss monkeypox and the looming fall festival season.As of Thursday, there are nine confirmed and 46 presumptive cases of monkeypox in Austin-Travis County. There are 559 confirmed monkeypox cases in Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The uptick in cases comes as Austin heads into a busy festival season, with large events like Pride
  
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• Austin health leaders discuss monkeypox, fall events Friday

  05-08-2022 17:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Public Health, Central Health and other local health leaders will host a virtual roundtable Friday to discuss monkeypox and the looming fall festival season.As of Thursday, there are nine confirmed and 46 presumptive cases of monkeypox in Austin-Travis County. There are 559 confirmed monkeypox cases in Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The uptick in cases comes as Austin heads into a busy festival season, with large events like Pride
  
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• Abbott: Bus of migrants arrives in New York City from Texas

  05-08-2022 16:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday a bus of migrants arrived in New York City from Texas — the first group for New York state.In early April, Abbott announced a plan for Texas to organize charter buses to transport migrants who have crossed the border and agree to it to Washington, D.C. The first bus for the capital city arrived April 13, and now Abbott is saying New York City will be added as a drop-off location. PAST COVERAGE: Bus with migrants sent by Texas go
  
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• Texas woman charged with holding 17 immigrants hostage in home

  05-08-2022 15:13 via kxan.com
  
  AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – A Texas woman has been accused of holding 17 undocumented immigrants hostage in her home.
  Manuela Magdalena Jimon Castro, 30, of Friona, was charged in Amarillo Federal Court with "alien harboring," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas.Castro, along with a family member, allegedly partnered with an illegal immigrant smuggling operation to hold "undocumented individuals hostage at their home," according to the Attorney&rsqu
  
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• Pinballz presents classic arcade and modern games, live events

  05-08-2022 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Modern gaming is dominated by at-home consoles and PCs, with players connected remotely via the internet. However, decades ago, gaming was more of an in-person affair. Instead of having one device with dozens of games, people went to arcades for variety and novelty.Pinballz2 locations in Austin, 1 in Buda
  ~30 minutes from Austin Cost: Free admission, each game has a price 10-12 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10-2 a.m. Friday-SaturdayPinballz, first opened in 2010, provides this same
  
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• What happens if nobody claims the Mega Millions jackpot?

  05-08-2022 14:01 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) - It's been a week since a Mega Millions ticket sold in Illinois landed the third-largest lottery prize in the nation. Despite the $1.337 billion award, the winner hasn't yet come forward.
  So what happens if nobody claims the award?Ultimately, if the jackpot goes unclaimed within the required time, states that participated in the Mega Millions game will get back the funds their state contributed to the pot, according to the game's website. From there, each state can use its prize funds
  
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• 'These days we really have a lot more options to choose from': What you need to know about birth control

  05-08-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Retired labor and delivery nurse Diane Powell got married in 1969. It had been less than 10 years since birth control pills were first approved for use but they still weren't as prevalent as they are today. She remembers a conversation about them soon after her wedding.
  “My mother-in-law asked me if I was taking birth control pills, and I said, ‘Yes, I am. I have one semester to go, and I have to graduate or my dad will kill me!’ She was very timid, and th
  
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• LIVE: 'These days we really have a lot more options to choose from': What you need to know about birth control

  05-08-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Retired labor and delivery nurse Diane Powell got married in 1969. It had been less than 10 years since birth control pills were first approved for use but they still weren't as prevalent as they are today. She remembers a conversation about them soon after her wedding.
  “My mother-in-law asked me if I was taking birth control pills, and I said, ‘Yes, I am. I have one semester to go, and I have to graduate or my dad will kill me!’ She was very timid, and th
  
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• Mother of son with autism advocates for easier entry into crucial driving program

  05-08-2022 13:00 via kxan.com
  
  LIBERTY HILL, Texas (KXAN) — Dave Wigton, 23, recently received an associate degree from Austin Community College. Before he is able pursue a bachelor’s in computer programming, he needs to save the money he earns from his new job at a clothing store.Having a driver’s license and being able to get himself to work will help him achieve this goal, said Dave’s mom, Vicki Wigton. When he got his license, it freed up some of her time as well.“It has made things easier fo
  
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• Pflugerville ISD asks instructional coaches to step in as full-time teachers to combat shortages

  05-08-2022 12:58 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — As teacher shortages continue across the state, school districts are finding ways to fill vacancies in classrooms ahead of the new school year.
  Pflugerville ISD is combatting the shortages by asking its instructional coaches to serve as full-time classroom teachers for the upcoming year, according to Pflugerville ISD's chief communication officer Tamra Spence."Although our district worked extremely hard with filling our classrooms for the Fall, we still have ma
  
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• Why fans at Q2 aren't as hot watching Austin FC

  05-08-2022 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin FC has almost been as hot as the temperatures.Due to the consistent heat during matches, fans have been flocking to the stadium's water stations all summer. Fans have been bringing water bottles to use at these stations which have proven to be a huge asset. Austin FC fan Derek Fowler talked to us about just how helpful the water stations have been. Sorry, McConaughey – the seats at Q2 Stadium are the coolest thing about Austin FC"We probably do this about twice a gam
  
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• Some slight relief from the heat combined with a few rain chances

  05-08-2022 11:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Extreme temperatures plagued the area again on Thursday as Camp Mabry's high temperature soared to 106° -- just shy of the daily record set in 2011. We are now in the midst of our third-longest stretch of triple-digit heat in recorded history, at 20 straight days.As high pressure shifts northward and a weak disturbance moves into Texas from the east, we expect an increase in cloud cover and a chance of showers Friday and Saturday. While the change will be welcome, it will be
  
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• Austin FC can't 'play into the chaos' Saturday vs. lowly San Jose

  05-08-2022 05:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Comfortably in second place in the Western Conference, Austin FC faces another bottom-of-the-table team Saturday at Q2 Stadium, the San Jose Earthquakes.Following a 2-0 road win over Sporting Kansas City on July 30, Verde comes back home to take on the second-to-last place side in the Western Conference in the Quakes. San Jose is tied with Colorado for the worst road record in the conference at 1-7-3. Austin FC announces development team to start play in 2023Austin FC head
  
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• Hays CISD adding additional safety ahead of school year

  05-08-2022 04:32 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- School safety was the main topic at the Hays CISD special school board meeting Thursday. The district expanded its safety and security office to include additional positions that have no other job duties so that they can be fully dedicated to the district’s safety and security responsibilities. There will now be two new safety coordinators to assist the district’s chief of safety and security, which is a position that has been elevated to sit on
  
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• Q&A with new AISD Police Chief on security, budget ahead of first day of school

  05-08-2022 04:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With almost two weeks until the start of school, we are getting a better look now at how districts are preparing. Austin ISD's new police chief Wayne Sneed sat down with KXAN and answered some questions about security and budget before the school year kicks off.
  We know safety and security are the main focus for parents, especially in the wake of Uvalde, and there are some concerns with older infrastructure, among other things. What are some new steps that you all are taking to
  
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• Single-vehicle crash on MoPac near Duval Road leaves one dead

  05-08-2022 03:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead after a single-vehicle crash on MoPac in north Austin.
  Austin-Travis County EMS tweeted that a vehicle crashed into a guardrail. One person was pronounced dead on the scene.
  ATCEMS said that drivers should expect traffic closures and avoid the area. It's the area of North MoPac near Duval Road, just north of The Domain shopping center.This post will be updated as more information becomes available.
  
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• Wimberley evacuations expected to lift Friday

  05-08-2022 03:08 via kxan.com
  
  WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) — Evacuations in Wimberley are expected to lift Friday evening as the Hermosa Fire is 45% contained.
  Mandatory and voluntary evacuations were put in place after the wildfire broke out Wednesday afternoon.
  The Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire was at 45% containment around 2 p.m. Friday.
  “All evacuations will be lifted and residents can return to their homes at 6pm. Please use extreme caution as fire fighters and emergency vehicles will still be operat
  
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• Dozens of families still under evacuation order during Hermosa Fire

  05-08-2022 03:08 via kxan.com
  
  WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) - Both mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders are in place for parts of Wimberley because of the Hermosa Fire.
  Cooper Doss and his family live on Bluff View, where there's a mandatory evacuation.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Multiple homes evacuated due to wildland fire in WimberleyHe said Wednesday afternoon he woke up from a nap to his worst nightmare.
  "We heard that there was a fire. Someone texted us and we drove down the road and we saw flames above the trees. Pretty crazy s
  
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• Uvalde DA: school shooting investigation, records release could take years

  05-08-2022 03:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (Nexstar) — In some of her first public remarks since the Robb Elementary school shooting on May 24, the Uvalde County district attorney explained why she is withholding records during a lawsuit hearing Thursday, noting that the investigation could take years.
  Uvalde DA Christina Mitchell Busbee answered questions in a Travis County District Court for a hearing in thelawsuit brought by Texas Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, who sued the Texas Department of Public
  
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• City of Austin develops plans to raise city employees' minimum wage

  05-08-2022 02:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin has developed plans to increase city employees' minimum wage, according to a memo from the city. There are two options, and they each have an $18 per hour wage for the 2023 fiscal year, which would then increase annually until 2027.
  The difference in the options is the proposed wage for fiscal year 2027. Option No. 1 proposes an increase of $1 per year until 2027, ending with a wage of $22 per hour. Option No. 2 proposes an increase of about $2 per year u
  
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• Round Rock's Ragans, Thompson called up, will make MLB debuts for Rangers vs. White Sox

  05-08-2022 02:10 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A pair of Round Rock Express players got the call every minor leaguer wants, and they're going to play in the big leagues immediately.Cole Ragans and Bubba Thompson were called up to the Majors by the Texas Rangers on Thursday after having terrific seasons so far in Triple-A. Rangers sign former Cy Young winner Dallas KeuchelRagans will make his Major League debut against the Chicago White Sox as Thursday's starting pitcher, and Thompson will also make his debut,
  
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• Round Rock's Ragans, Thompson called up, make MLB debuts for Rangers vs. White Sox

  05-08-2022 02:10 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A pair of Round Rock Express players got the call every minor leaguer wants, and they're going to play in the big leagues immediately.Cole Ragans and Bubba Thompson were called up to the Majors by the Texas Rangers on Thursday after having terrific seasons so far in Triple-A. Rangers sign former Cy Young winner Dallas KeuchelRagans didn't factor into the decision in the Rangers' 3-2 win but pitched well. He pitched five innings and didn't allow an earned run with
  
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• Round Rock ISD supplements shortage of teachers with certification program for teaching assistants

  05-08-2022 01:35 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – As teacher shortages abound, Round Rock ISD shared more about its alternative certification program. The program would allow teaching assistants to become certified to teach at no cost to themselves.The district began offering this program within the last school year, and some of its applicants are now ready to teach this fall said Chief Human Resources Officer Eddie Curran.The program allows assistants with bachelor’s degrees to take online courses and rec
  
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• How do rural departments get water to fight fires?

  05-08-2022 01:35 via kxan.com
  
  WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) — The hilly terrain in Hays County made getting water to the Hermosa Fire near Wimberley a challenge.
  "In this area we're very limited for water, so water has to be trucked on large water tenders so those cars have to come in throughout the night to get the water to the firefighters," said Hays County Fire Marshal Mark Wobus. Multiple homes evacuated due to wildland fire in WimberleyThe drought exacerbates the problem."It takes a lot more now that we're in this drou
  
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• Rep. Talarico demands Abbott call special session for Texas juvenile prison conditions

  05-08-2022 01:24 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – In a statement Thursday, Texas House member Rep. James Talarico with District 52 demanded Gov. Greg Abbott call a special session to discuss Texas juvenile prisons.In the statement, Talarico referenced a Texas Tribune report listing staffing shortages and conditions at the facilities that led to the demand. Talarico is a member of the House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee, which oversees the state’s juvenile justice system.&ldq
  
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• Wimberley church opens its doors for Hermosa Fire evacuees

  05-08-2022 00:12 via kxan.com
  
  WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) -- Eight homes were forced to evacuate Wednesday night due to a wildfire in Wimberley, named the Hermosa Fire. On top of those eight, 45 homes voluntarily evacuated.
  Vic Forsyth was one of the residents who evacuated. He said he went to check the mail, saw smoke billowing, then went to check if someone had turned it in.
  "I thought it was going to die down, but after that it just kind of took off," Forsyth said.Many of the evacuees stayed overnight at First Baptist Church
  
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• Phishing operation targets unemployed Texans

  05-08-2022 00:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new phishing operation is targeting out-of-work Texans already struggling and in need of help.
  "[Operations] like this, of course, are trying to take advantage of Texans and we want to make sure that they aren't," said Texas Workforce Commission spokesperson Angela Woellner. "Because a lot of these people are vulnerable and they're really looking for resources and they need that help."Since June, Texans have received fraudulent text messages saying their unemployment benefits
  
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• Hays County, three others downgraded in latest COVID risk levels

  05-08-2022 00:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three local counties, including Hays County, have been downgraded from high to medium risk for COVID-19 in the newest weekly update from the CDC.Caldwell and Lampasas Counties joined Hays in dropping from high to medium. San Saba County was downgraded from medium to low risk.Meanwhile, Mason County was upgraded from medium to high risk.Each week since Feb. 24, the CDC has assigned a "COVID-19 Community Level" to every county nationwide based on how the virus is impacting lo
  
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